New Jersey’s lieutenant governor resigns after sexual harassment and
ethics complaints
[September 26, 2026]
By MIKE CATALINI and PHILIP MARCELO
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey ’s Democratic lieutenant governor
resigned Friday, pushed out by the state’s governor after less than a
year in office over accusations of ethics lapses and inappropriate
behavior with women.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill, also a Democrat, had given Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell
until Friday to resign, seeking to end a scandal that threatened to be a
drag on her fledgling administration.
Republicans have hammered Sherrill for weeks about the investigation
into Caldwell, who served as acting governor in her absence. He also
oversaw elections as New Jersey’s secretary of state, and his
resignation comes weeks ahead of midterm elections that will decide who
controls Congress.
At a news conference announcing the resignation, Sherrill said she was
committed to changing what she called a longstanding problem in state
government of people turning a blind eye to sexual harassment.
“There has been a culture in Trenton, probably since the birth of our
nation, to sweep this under the rug,” she said.
“That is not the kind of government I’m running,” she added. “When I say
there is a culture change taking place, I mean it.”
The governor had called for Caldwell to resign on Thursday after a law
firm she hired released a report saying he behaved inappropriately
around women.
In a statement Friday, Caldwell said he stepped down to keep the
controversy from interfering with Sherrill’s important work, while
maintaining that the matter had damaged his reputation.
“My decision to resign should not be interpreted as an acceptance of the
report’s findings,” he said. His attorney, Thomas Calcagni, said they
were looking into legal options to challenge the report.
Caldwell's resignation was far from certain
Sherrill picked Caldwell, a Methodist pastor and former president of
Centenary University, as her running mate last year. They took office in
January, but within four months, Caldwell had become the subject of an
anonymous complaint about his behavior with women.
Caldwell at first showed no signs he would leave office willingly. In
New Jersey, a governor can’t fire the lieutenant governor, but Caldwell
could have been impeached and removed by the legislature.
Sherrill told reporters she'd spoken and texted with Caldwell in recent
days, but wouldn’t say whether he expressed any remorse.
Sherrill faces questions about her judgement
Republican state Sen. Kristin Corrado on Friday questioned Sherrill’s
judgment for allowing Caldwell to serve as acting governor when she left
the state, even as his conduct was being investigated.
“New Jersey residents deserve leadership, transparency, and answers from
their government,” she said. “So far, we have gotten none.”
The resignation probably won’t move the needle much in New Jersey’s
midterms, said Matt Hale, a political science professor at Seton Hall
University, but it gives Republicans fresh ammunition against the
governor.
Still, he said, Democrats can contrast Caldwell’s swift dismissal with
the Trump administration’s attitude toward controversy.
“This wouldn’t even make page six news if it was at the federal level,”
Hale said.
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New Jersey Democratic Lt. Governor elect Dale Caldwell speaks during
an election night party in East Brunswick, N.J., Nov. 4, 2025. (AP
Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
The allegations went beyond inappropriate comments
The law firm’s report released Thursday said Caldwell committed
several violations of state policy. It said Caldwell, 66, made an
advance toward a staff member’s friend and when he was rebuffed told
the staffer, “you young women are looking for young sperm.”
The report said Caldwell had tried to get a promotion for a state
employee he was dating and brought personal guests to the opera and
other ticketed events without paying for them, as required by ethics
rules.
Caldwell’s lawyer said his client “categorically denies” making the
sperm statement but acknowledged that Caldwell had recommended the
woman for a promotion, although he denied ordering anyone to promote
her. Caldwell denied other claims, including that he gave out his
business cards to women for inappropriate reasons.
In a letter included in the report, Caldwell said he suspected his
relationships with women were being subjected to extra scrutiny
because he was a single Black man.
“This (resignation) might hurt her with some Black Democratic men,”
said Richard Bensel, a government professor at Cornell University,
“but I suspect that will be more than compensated by the approval of
Black Democratic women.”
Until a new lieutenant governor is named, state Senate President
Nicholas Scutari will step in as acting governor if Sherrill is away
or unable to perform her duties. The secretary of state roll will be
filled by the acting state comptroller, Shirley Emehelu.
Lieutenant governor turmoil isn't unique to New Jersey
In neighboring New York, a similar impasse has played out over the
past year between Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and her estranged Lt.
Gov. Antonio Delgado, who launched a caustic primary challenge to
unseat her only to withdraw from the race as the election neared.
Hochul is now running for reelection in November with Adrienne
Adams, the former speaker of the New York City Council, as her
replacement lieutenant governor nominee.
Caldwell, the fourth lieutenant governor since the position was
created in 2009, is the first to resign. But he’s hardly the first
Garden State politician to be felled by scandal.
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, who quit in the wake of his 2024 bribery
conviction, and New Jersey Gov. Jim McGreevey, who resigned in 2004
after coming out as gay as questions swirled about him appointing
his one-time lover as the state’s homeland security adviser. Both
are also Democrats.
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Marcelo reported from New York
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